Lies about pharmacist job market

Do not believe some of the lies being written here regarding lack of job opportunities for pharmacists. These liars are trying to scare people off from applying to pharmacy school because they fear that supply will overtake demand. Fact is, pharmacists make tons of money right out of school and there are and will be many job openings in the future. This is all just a feeble attempt to prevent people from entering this lucrative field. Liars!

Ivory tower academics are aligned with pharmaceutics. They truly believe that dispensing drugs in a drug store requires a PharmD. They are part of the reason pharmacy could not break into the roles that NP's and PA's hold now. Pharmacy should have demanded to become a real profession with the right to diagnose and prescribe.

Instead, pharmacy leaders shrank back from the angry posturing of medicine. Pharmacy kindly gave up the only true professional responsibility related to pharmacotherapy. You cannot be good at drug therapy unless you practice drug therapy. Dispensing drugs has almost nothing to do with pharmacology. That is why experience means nothing in pharmacy. Even in hospitals, pharmacists spend most of their time doing nursing secretarial work by "verifying" and processing orders.

I see that a few pharmacy schools have blended a PA program with their PharmD. This is the only sensible future for pharmacy.

I am not sure opening an independent is the answer. I tried it and found that the reimbursement from these insurance companies was very low in my opinion. It is said that it costs 10 dollars to fill a prescription for the pharmacy, I was making an average of $5 per prescription on insurance in my new pharmacy and had friends in the business longer agreeing with me. So save your money and look into some other business in my opinion.

NO MORE JOB FOR RPH WITHOUT HOSPITAL EXP in Minneapolis, Minnesota said: I'VE BEEN APPLYING FOR JOB EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS,I HAVEN'T GOT A SINGLE CALL EVEN FOR AN INTERVIEW
I'M PHARM.D, 5 YEARS RETAIL EXPERIENCE, NO HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE, LICENSED IN 2 STATES, MA AND PA
NOW, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO START THINKING ABOUT OPENING MY OWN INDEPENDENT PHARMACY COZ I'LL GET LAID OFF IN LESS THAN A MONTH, I KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE BAD FOR MY PERSONAL LIFE BEING A WOMAN AND WORK 7 DAYS A WEEK LIKE THAT, BUT WHAT I CAN DO ?
MARRY A RICH HUSBAND THEN GO BACK TO SCHOOL ?? LOL...

Sara in Nashville, Tennessee said: CALLING ALL PHARMACISTS OUT THERE!!!! WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND SAVE OUR PROFESSION!!!!!
New schools opening up are saturating the profession,lowering standards, and producing incompetent pharmacists!!! Let's all do something about it!

I am with you Sara in Nashville, but what can we do? I am a pharmacist in the Houston, Texas area, and believe me, it scares me to see how the profession is going down hill. I have worked in both retail for the Walgreens and CVSs of the that world, and various hospitals of the Texas area. Employers treat pharmacists like we are a dime-a-dozen. We are disrepected by nurses, doctors, and even other fellow PHARMACISTS (those who are the Directors of Pharmacy and DM's of Pharmacy)!!! Do you think forming a Union would help?

Well, I'm not so sure I want to stay in this profession considering what it has become. Really-with all the students graduating each year, and their brains being younger and more up-to-date than mine, even if the market gets better, I'm not sure I would have a good enough chance to find a job. I would continue in my field if I could, but I can't find a job! I don't have hospital experience, only retail. So, I don't know how I specialize if I can't find a job doing anything in the field. I cannot relocate b/c my husband is in an industry that is only in this area. He gets paid well, so relocating for me wouldn't make much sense. Has anyone heard of independents letting unemployed pharmacists work for a low wage just to keep their knowledge base? The one career in medicine I am pretty sure is pretty open is RNs...I think. I worked as a CNA during high school, so I know I can't be happy doing that kind of work for life.
Just saw a story on the news about law schools being "scams." Apparently, graduates of a NY law school filed a class action lawsuit against their school, claiming they were duped into enrolling with false promises of practically guaranteed high-paying jobs upon graduation. Of course when they got out, all they had was high debt and no job. From what I read in one article, the percentage of previous grads getting jobs upon graduation and their avg. salaries were pretty far off from what the actual figures were. Thought it was interesting and I'd share. Not saying pharm schools are this bad, but I think they should be regulated. The same issue is brought up in these articles. Law schools aren't either, so all these schools can open, tell students what they want to hear, and just collect money. We all know how many pharm schools have opened in the last ten years, and how much each class size has grown!

I have a PharmD, residency, hospital experience, clinical experience, and retail experience. However, I cannot find a job in PA, NJ, or DE if my life depended on it.

Do not buy into the whole residency idea. It is a scam to get you to take a salary hit and work your ass off. What I have seen or employers taking advantage of the pharmacists these days. I would not recommend this profession to anyone. I know pharmacists with years of experience that have been unemployed for well over a year at this stage.

holmes in River Grove, Illinois said: Do not believe some of the lies being written here regarding lack of job opportunities for pharmacists. These liars are trying to scare people off from applying to pharmacy school because they fear that supply will overtake demand. Fact is, pharmacists make tons of money right out of school and there are and will be many job openings in the future. This is all just a feeble attempt to prevent people from entering this lucrative field. Liars!

You must be the president of one of those new pharmacy school. ignorance is bliss

Kids if you really want to know what the job demand is call the recruitment number listed on any of the major chain career sites. Say: "Thanks for taking my call. I just took my boards today and I am feeling pretty good about it. I was curious about any opportunities available with fillintheblank."
I promise you won’t have to go forward with an interview. You could also call any mom and pop pharmacy in your area (or pick an area you would love to live in) and say, "I am relocating next month and was wondering if you had any per Diem needs coming up."
I keep noticing the same old cut and paste "Do not believe the lies..." I know that if I had a killer job I would not cruise these forums for ANY reason. Indeed Indeed would not even enter my thoughts. In fact, even in the unlikely event that I had a bad day at my killer job and wanted to job hunt to blow off steam I would likely reach for the Sunday paper classifieds like I did to find my career kick off job circa 1995.
If you have it in you to make the grades and network get a dual PharmD/PA degree. If I could do it again that is what I would do. I am pretty sure I would not be writing to you. ;)
note: to those primarily interested in fat salary pharmacists make.... you should do it dude! Go to pharmacy school. The chains will pay back your loans! You can do it no problem. Just apply your depends, grab a bag of peanuts and you are off to drive that leased mercedes for a 12 hour park at the fillintheblank.

Funny!;() My mom was the social worker that wanted her daughter to have financial freedom. She encouraged me so far as to fill out my winning ticket into this nightmare. Wait! I thought it was funny! No, funny is: $140000 to soup kitchen to: $105000 to: Hey Mr. stay on your side of the bench… and all the fear in between.
PS to the kids: if you really have competitive grades don't say "PRE-" anything. (ie. don't say "bun" say "be you N":))

It is really horrendous to find something in a state with four pharmacy schools. We already had Mercer, and UGA and courtesy of the academic money machine we now have South and still a newer Philadelphia school. It has made the job marked super tight. Even Rite Aid is having no problems getting people, and that is saying plenty. It is turning into a no win situation for pharmacists. The ones that have a job a getting their job micromanaged on an unprecedented scale since all the people above them have to make work to keep their jobs.Help is being cut to the bone, and some pharmacist stay over just to keep from coming in the next day to a pile of unfinished work. For all you ignoramuses that are thinking about a pharmacy career, WAKE UP. You are like the guy at the turn of the century that kept selling buggies with the autos went zooming by. Soon no one needed him. I believe that automation will also do away with more pharmacists.Go where the damand is. You don't go to a dessert to find refreshment
You go to a fountain and it ain't pharmacy anymore!

David in Atlanta, Georgia said: It is really horrendous to find something in a state with four pharmacy schools. We already had Mercer, and UGA and courtesy of the academic money machine we now have South and still a newer Philadelphia school. It has made the job marked super tight. Even Rite Aid is having no problems getting people, and that is saying plenty. It is turning into a no win situation for pharmacists. The ones that have a job a getting their job micromanaged on an unprecedented scale since all the people above them have to make work to keep their jobs.Help is being cut to the bone, and some pharmacist stay over just to keep from coming in the next day to a pile of unfinished work. For all you ignoramuses that are thinking about a pharmacy career, WAKE UP. You are like the guy at the turn of the century that kept selling buggies with the autos went zooming by. Soon no one needed him. I believe that automation will also do away with more pharmacists.Go where the damand is. You don't go to a dessert to find refreshment
You go to a fountain and it ain't pharmacy anymore!

Hi David/Forum Members,
So where/what is the fountain that will keep producing for the average working lifetime? Enrolling in Physician Assistant programs after Pharm.D. and/or B.Pharm.? Anyone up for RETAKING all those prerequisites such as Chem 101-102/WITH LABS, Organic ChemI &II/WITH LABS, Physics I&II/WITH LABS, Calculus, Bio/1 year, and upper level Physiology OVER AGAIN, if you studied those courses more than 10 years ago for your Pharmacy degree. Check out the admissions requirements for P.A. and you will see that as a factor for getting into the program. One school noted, unless you use those courses directly in your line of work, you must re-take if studied greater than 6-10 years ago. Who uses physics concepts in retail, hospital, etc.?
What are y'all thoughts on this...

AnalyticalMind in Buffalo, New York said: Hi David/Forum Members,
So where/what is the fountain that will keep producing for the average working lifetime? Enrolling in Physician Assistant programs after Pharm.D. and/or B.Pharm.? Anyone up for RETAKING all those prerequisites such as Chem 101-102/WITH LABS, Organic ChemI &II/WITH LABS, Physics I&II/WITH LABS, Calculus, Bio/1 year, and upper level Physiology OVER AGAIN, if you studied those courses more than 10 years ago for your Pharmacy degree. Check out the admissions requirements for P.A. and you will see that as a factor for getting into the program. One school noted, unless you use those courses directly in your line of work, you must re-take if studied greater than 6-10 years ago. Who uses physics concepts in retail, hospital, etc.?
What are y'all thoughts on this...

Even if your undergrad work is new enough, you must start at the beginning. LPN, physical therapist, or doctor; it doesn't matter. Each institution wants the most money from each student.
BTW, students and pharmacists: Don't feel bad about being over-educated. EVERY health care job is contrived and superfluous. EVERY health care job exists because a little law says so. However, it is time to say no to the ridiculous idea of (required) pharmacy residencies.

Google: NIA college conspiracy...
inflation.us/videos.html at about the 40 minute mark they
they go into pharmacy and how in 2008 the pharmacy shortage hoax was created.
Now a word about NIA, they give some truth, but it's mixed with some lies. Its main operator is a fellow by the name of Jonathan Lebed who mixes economic truth with a stock and dump scheme. The video costs about 40 thousand bucks to produce. But it's good to go to a university, but the price is in a bubble thanks to cheap loans and government & corporate interference. Peter Schiff exposes the problems with NIA.
www.thetotalcollapse.com/peter-schiff-exposes-nia-scam/

David in Atlanta, Georgia said: It is really horrendous to find something in a state with four pharmacy schools. We already had Mercer, and UGA and courtesy of the academic money machine we now have South and still a newer Philadelphia school. It has made the job marked super tight. Even Rite Aid is having no problems getting people, and that is saying plenty. It is turning into a no win situation for pharmacists. The ones that have a job a getting their job micromanaged on an unprecedented scale since all the people above them have to make work to keep their jobs.Help is being cut to the bone, and some pharmacist stay over just to keep from coming in the next day to a pile of unfinished work. For all you ignoramuses that are thinking about a pharmacy career, WAKE UP. You are like the guy at the turn of the century that kept selling buggies with the autos went zooming by. Soon no one needed him. I believe that automation will also do away with more pharmacists.Go where the damand is. You don't go to a dessert to find refreshment
You go to a fountain and it ain't pharmacy anymore!

Correct, people also need to be aware and watch this:
inflation.us/videos.html In the 1st video titled college conspiracy at around the 40 minute mark they talk about THE 2008 PHARMACIST SHORTAGE HOAX... but NIA in the end touts to join to recieve special e-mails touting stocks ( buyer beware ) but this cideo does have some truth in it. But it's not just pharmacist that will suffer in economic hardship, expect 20 percent unemployment probably more... Do what's best and get a survivalist mentality soon. If things collapse some workers will be needed mechanic, AC repair, things that keep peoples necessities working as they generally get poorer.

UsedRph said: Correct, people also need to be aware and watch this:
inflation.us/videos.html In the 1st video titled college conspiracy at around the 40 minute mark they talk about THE 2008 PHARMACIST SHORTAGE HOAX... but NIA in the end touts to join to recieve special e-mails touting stocks ( buyer beware ) but this cideo does have some truth in it. But it's not just pharmacist that will suffer in economic hardship, expect 20 percent unemployment probably more... Do what's best and get a survivalist mentality soon. If things collapse some workers will be needed mechanic, AC repair, things that keep peoples necessities working as they generally get poorer.

If a collapse occurred, things would turn around in a good way:

Corporate control of pharmacy would end. Small communities will have to depend on each other again. Each community will need a pharmacist who provides professional service to the people. You will not submit claims to corrupt insurance institutions anymore. Your fees will be inline with what the people can pay. (Physicians too). Cheap effective drugs will be available.

Of course, this would only happen with the most catastrophic possible outcomes. Nevertheless, it makes you think about how things could be different.

A collapse could be a good thing. But Corporate Power continues to influence the schools & the law. In a cash only situation prices would go down and salaries would go down and good independant pharmacies would gain ground and service the customer better than these chains. We also need to see a commercial real estate crash so inflated prices on commercial real estate would come down & that would allow smaller bussiness to get better positions. But nobody in the establishment wants that. The tax collector doesn't want that, the banks who made the loans don't want that. So instead we have ( what I believe is going on ) is a game of favorites. Friends of the Federal Reserve get the assets for free and ousiders have to pay the asking price. Perhaps it's always been that way, but if the Federal Reserve is propping up poor companies ( thru the banks that own the Fed ) we will never have true competetion just an illusion. A lie.. just like the lie of cognitive services & the lie of a pharmacist shortage. But it's a nice thought to see these corporations crumble... and the pharmacy schools turned upside down because they worshiped and trusted thier corporate overlords... That 20 thousand dollar check Tom Ryan gives a school is a pittance to his 120 Million in stock options.... and he's not even the owners... www.zimbio.com/CEO+Tom+Ryan/articles/gJ2r0Pw5ql4/CVS+ex+CEO+takes+home+over+120+million+2010

flip in Burlington, Iowa said: If a collapse occurred, things would turn around in a good way:

Corporate control of pharmacy would end. Small communities will have to depend on each other again. Each community will need a pharmacist who provides professional service to the people. You will not submit claims to corrupt insurance institutions anymore. Your fees will be inline with what the people can pay. (Physicians too). Cheap effective drugs will be available.

Of course, this would only happen with the most catastrophic possible outcomes. Nevertheless, it makes you think about how things could be different.

Our surplus labor is the problem of a much worse system that affects everyone www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrV84FZ_4G4I have not seen any Federal Reserve notes with dates after 2006...
yet the debt has grown substantially....
So I believe this whole collapsed is planned.
It's the mechinism of action.

I am still unemployed, still cannot support my family financially, cannot find jobs that are not pharmacist jobs because I am overqualified, went to every pharmacy in a 25 mile radius, not a single job out there. I do not know what to do.

I am a PharmD with a residency completed. I talked to recruiters but they said they do not have much out my way at all. It is a nasty market. I have offered to work for $10 an hour less and I still cannot find anything.

Any suggestions? Becoming a pharmacist has been the biggest mistake of my life. I lost all those years earning money without this monster debt.

UsedRph said: Our surplus labor is the problem of a much worse system that affects everyone www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrV84FZ_4G4I have not seen any Federal Reserve notes with dates after 2006...
yet the debt has grown substantially....
So I believe this whole collapsed is planned.
It's the mechinism of action.

1. Get a pharmacist license in a state that gives you more opportunity like the Midwest and Southwest states. My last option would be North Dakota, but I can tell you ever time I inquire about jobs up there, they are, or appear to be available. As a matter of fact one pharmacy manager emailed me and said they even have a part-time job with full time benefits.
a. Get a job there and move there.
b. If you have to go there in person for an interview, stick around for a while and get some others lined up.

2. If you are tied down by having a house or something. What can I say? Stay there and keep looking, but realize you might be looking for another 2 years. Or, cut your loses and get the **** out of there. That is if you really want a pharmacist salary.

3. Revamp your resume, drop the Pharm. D. degree and fill in the blank on the resume. Realize you won't be getting a Pharm. D. salary, and your student loan debt will sky rocket, and you'll be paying that off for the rest of your life. If you can't get a job like that either, try one of my other options.

4. Join the military as an pharmacist. Inquire about loan repayment for each branch. Because they don't all offer the same loan repayment.

5. Consider taking the pharmacist exam for Canada or Australia or where ever and move there. At least you'll have healthinsurance. Salaries are different though.

6. Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll probably keep getting the same results that you are getting.

7. Join the military as enlisted, have them train you as a PA or something else. Get the hell out of the field and get help with loan repayment.

It's not easy. But, these are some of the ideas I am going with. I'm using number 1 and 4. One thing I know for certain. If you've been in a state, like I am and you can't find a job within 5 months, like myself, I would think it's time to find another approach.

I am still unemployed, still cannot support my family financially, cannot find jobs that are not pharmacist jobs because I am overqualified, went to every pharmacy in a 25 mile radius, not a single job out there. I do not know what to do.

I am a PharmD with a residency completed. I talked to recruiters but they said they do not have much out my way at all. It is a nasty market. I have offered to work for $10 an hour less and I still cannot find anything.

Any suggestions? Becoming a pharmacist has been the biggest mistake of my life. I lost all those years earning money without this monster debt.

I accepted a job for $15 less an hour and was replaced a month later for someone who would do it for $25 less an hour. That person lacked experience so they asked me to come back at the $25 less an hour rate. I can't do it. I don't want to do it. So now I make zero dollars an hour.

Oh man,this makes me want to leave Pharmacy more than ever while i still can? What other careers have a yield similar to Pharmacy. I wonder if all salaries will eventually get pushed down. Why hasnt this happened to nursing? Any suggesstions on safe careers? Im thinking millitary

Dan,
It depends on an academic career or a trade career. Of the academic careers I would choose medicine if I had to do it all over again. It has always been in high demand and will always be a top of the line position. People will always be nuts about their health, often unnecessarily since the body is a natural healer, but that is why physicians make money from the peoples hypochondria. In the trade careers I would choose to be a plumber, or a heating and air man. That is something that is always needed and people will pay even if they have to borrow the money.When there is water on the floor or when it is 100 degrees inside your home you will pay to get cooled off. Pharmacy never defined itself and soon will be as extinct as a dinosaur. Lets face it, the bean counters are tired of paying people to lick,stick, count and pour, but they have no other uses for us but to do just that.

So if I'm willing to relocate to a rural location, where no one else wants to go, I'll get a job? The counselor I talked to sold me Pharmacy like he was getting paid by the schools to recruit kids. I'm gonna talk to another counselor within a few weeks, and I'm still at the point in my education where it wouldn't be hard to change majors (just been doing some GEs). If I have to, I will switch back to athletic training, but I'd rather continue with Pharmacy. The classes interest me, and I would actually rather live in the country.

Btw, I won't finish my PharmD until 2016, and while looking at job markets now is not indicative of where they will be in 5 years, there are jobs all over the place it seems (mostly on monster.com). Granted, a lot of those are for 18 yrs and older (so just high school kids) but still. They're there.

When you start applying to jobs on Careerbuilder or Monster, you'll see that these aren't realy jobs. You will see the same postings over and over again even when you search in other locations. Many of the jobs posted are just listings. The positions have already been filled or someone forgot to take the ad off. You will sing a different tune when it's your turn to apply for jobs.

I am a pharmacy student with an expected graduation date in 2013. I feel like I want to cry. I tried extremely hard to snag an internship but bc of the oversaturation in MANY areas, it has been a futile effort. I am set to do APPE rotations next year and I am scared for after graduation. It seems like the only ways to secure a job in this environment is to know people who have either worked for a company before (or hospital)or are working for the company now. That's it. No other way........

For any student looking at pharmacy as a career, please, please please do your due diligence and research this option as a career before you commit yourself.

The president of my school (I will not mention where), opened up another school (a satellite campus in another state). The word I heard about this state where the school opened up is that their Board of Pharmacy increased the intern hours to take the board exam from 50 hours to 500! So in order to sit for this state's board exam, you have to really like that state! Just getting the PharmD won't cut it like other states. Now, this president wants to open a joint PharmD/PA program!

I dunno what to do. I was thinking of attending the MRM for APhA and see if I can somehow snag a few interviews there....I just don't know anymore..........

I am a pharmacy student with an expected graduation date in 2013. I feel like I want to cry. I tried extremely hard to snag an internship but bc of the oversaturation in MANY areas, it has been a futile effort. I am set to do APPE rotations next year and I am scared for after graduation. It seems like the only ways to secure a job in this environment is to know people who have either worked for a company before (or hospital)or are working for the company now. That's it. No other way........

For any student looking at pharmacy as a career, please, please please do your due diligence and research this option as a career before you commit yourself.

The president of my school (I will not mention where), opened up another school (a satellite campus in another state). The word I heard about this state where the school opened up is that their Board of Pharmacy increased the intern hours to take the board exam from 50 hours to 500! So in order to sit for this state's board exam, you have to really like that state! Just getting the PharmD won't cut it like other states. Now, this president wants to open a joint PharmD/PA program!

I dunno what to do. I was thinking of attending the MRM for APhA and see if I can somehow snag a few interviews there....I just don't know anymore..........

Dylan in Olathe, Kansas said: Btw, I won't finish my PharmD until 2016, and while looking at job markets now is not indicative of where they will be in 5 years, there are jobs all over the place it seems (mostly on monster.com). Granted, a lot of those are for 18 yrs and older (so just high school kids) but still. They're there.

Hello Dylan from Olathe, Kansas!

I am from NYC and the jobs posted on Indeed (7 times out 10) are already filled up by using internal applications (people from within the company applying for transfers,etc.) As to why they are posted, I have no clue. As you will see by the time you graduate, the jobs are going to get scarce! I am seeing first hand on how the game (yes, this is a game now) is being played. I had no prior work experience in pharmacy, so I have to struggle and hustle harder to secure a job after graduation. The only way you will get internships or hired after graduation are the following:

1. You have parents or other family members that are pharmacists and work for ABC hospital or XYZ Pharmacy drugstore chain. If you go this route, you will not need to do residencies (almost 100% guaranteed!)

2. If number 1 fails, you need a good friend who is willing to hook you up

3. If #2 fails, speak to faculty and see if they will give you the "hook up".

4. If all three fail AND your a really great academic record, apply for residency

I received a good education in pharmacy. Real problem solving skills are taught even though there is a lot of memorization. The trouble is pharmacy schools and the puppeteer chain monopolies cannot help pharmacists to move toward a truly professional role.

If you can, go to medical school or PA school. The combined PharmD/PA programs appear like a viable gateway to being a real practioner. If I was not looking at retirement in 10 years, I would go to PA school.

The PharmD who could perform the roles of a PA would really get to use their knowledge and skills. That person could work at a medical clinic and solve medication management problems. BTW, guess why RPh's can't get jobs like that? (you fill in the blank).

Are you serious? No fkn way. What city was that in? What kind a hospital was that? I've thought of putting on my resume will work for 30 or 20 an hour, but I didn't think people actually do it. Wow.

I am in San Diego, CA. This is an independent pharmacy owned by non-pharmacists. I did not post a rate on my resume. It was a verbal agreement. When the owner tried to get me to agree to a lower rate I let out a shreek and he got the picture. So they kept shopping and ditched me when they got a bite. I backed out on a second interview for a medical review position in which I offered my time for twenty bucks an hour. I had a mini fantasy that I could work my way into a new field. But then I woke up. :(

I received a good education in pharmacy. Real problem solving skills are taught even though there is a lot of memorization. The trouble is pharmacy schools and the puppeteer chain monopolies cannot help pharmacists to move toward a truly professional role.

If you can, go to medical school or PA school. The combined PharmD/PA programs appear like a viable gateway to being a real practioner. If I was not looking at retirement in 10 years, I would go to PA school.

The PharmD who could perform the roles of a PA would really get to use their knowledge and skills. That person could work at a medical clinic and solve medication management problems. BTW, guess why RPh's can't get jobs like that? (you fill in the blank).

That is what I am talking about! Thank you. This is a real issue though...what about giving rectals? :()It sounds silly and unprofessional but I bet the PAs get to do all the rectals. :( I would have to join a rectal support group.

What you are seeing in this country is the death of the middle class. With their passing, no one will have insurance to pay for medicine. Money will not be spent to boost the economy and the bedrock of the country will crack. There are thousands of college graduates flipping burgers or living off mom and dad today. We need to face the music, we ARE in a Depression that will equal or be greater that the Great Depression of 1929. I would not be surprised to see 40% unemployment in 2012 and mass unrest and lawlessness. We are beginning to see this with tent cities popping up full of so called protesters that are just mad at people who are productive and are making a living. Many retailers will go belly up in the coming 2 years. Pharmacies will be included. When businesses see the huge expense that is generated by pharmacy, many will close in supermarkets and other big boxes, despite the inconvenience caused be a few of their customers. Medicine will survive and physicians and nurses will still be around, but I"m afraid pharmacy is a luxury that will be done away with or greatly curtailed in the coming medical environment.To future pharmacy hopefuls, please wake up and go in another direction. If you just can't stand being out of the medical field, be a physician, a PA, or nurse. In the meantime, buckle up because it is going to be a long bumpy ride!

I think you are hitting the panic button a little to fast there David from Atlanta. 40% unemployment by 2012 are you kidding me? and pharmacy is not a luxury unless you think controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, infection, and so on and so on are considered luxury. Also can someone explain to me how do you figure the doctors and PA's and nurses are going to be just fine but pharmacists are not. Last I checked prescribing medications is a major part of what docgtors do and the main reason most patients go to see doctors is to get a prescription for something that is ailing them. Now I understand there is an over saturation problem in the pharmacy field and new pharmacy schools are popping up like zits on a 16 year old teenager but just like anything else in a capitalistic system it will eventually take care of itslef. But it doesn't hurt to e- mail your pharmacy association to let them know you are concerned and ask are they doing anything about it. My guess is nothing but if they get enough emails from concerned pharmacists they may actually do somthing to fix this problem sooner than later. Good luck to all of you that are still looking for jobs.

Pharmacy, as a career, is dead. People keep saying, well maybe, in the future, they'll morph into providing health services. Keeep dreaming! Nurse practitioners will fill that role if push comes to shove. So, unfortunately, you have to just keep memorizing your top 200 drugs only to find out that in the real world, everything you learned is already automated.
Techs are doing the "technical" work and pharmacists are reviewing the drugs that have already been scanned a million times on a computerized system to prove the drug is the drug prescribed, if there are interactions, etc. You really think chains will continue to pay pharmacists that lovely living salary to do what the automation already does. Ha. Knee-slapper!
If you're young enough and still thinking about pharmacy, think twice. Join another profession....oh wait, you could STILL be a pharmacy professor in one of the half a billion pharmacy schools in the U.S. That's one place that's still hiring pharmacists. Now your job will be to run the profession into the ground even worse than it already is by saturating the market.

andhow in Mira Loma, California said: Kids if you really want to know what the job demand is call the recruitment number listed on any of the major chain career sites. Say: "Thanks for taking my call. I just took my boards today and I am feeling pretty good about it. I was curious about any opportunities available with fillintheblank."
I promise you won’t have to go forward with an interview. You could also call any mom and pop pharmacy in your area (or pick an area you would love to live in) and say, "I am relocating next month and was wondering if you had any per Diem needs coming up."
I keep noticing the same old cut and paste "Do not believe the lies..." I know that if I had a killer job I would not cruise these forums for ANY reason. Indeed Indeed would not even enter my thoughts. In fact, even in the unlikely event that I had a bad day at my killer job and wanted to job hunt to blow off steam I would likely reach for the Sunday paper classifieds like I did to find my career kick off job circa 1995.
If you have it in you to make the grades and network get a dual PharmD/PA degree. If I could do it again that is what I would do. I am pretty sure I would not be writing to you. ;)
note: to those primarily interested in fat salary pharmacists make.... you should do it dude! Go to pharmacy school. The chains will pay back your loans! You can do it no problem. Just apply your depends, grab a bag of peanuts and you are off to drive that leased mercedes for a 12 hour park at the fillintheblank.

Not sure exactly what you are trying to say : The job market for pharmacists is not as great as you were led to beleive so become also a PA. Well as a PA , there are many opportunities but if money is what you want , it is not the field. In fact to all that are listening , if you are going into the HealthCare field for money--don't bother. It's not that you won't make a decent comfortable living -- just money is the wrong reason- its sounds like you job

yardleyed in Morrisville, Pennsylvania said: I still have difficulty understanding that so many new pharmacists just don't get it--the pharmacy job market is failing thanks to the over-saturation of new graDUATES FROM THE MONEY HUNGRY SCHOOLS!
What does it take to wake up and smell the coffee? Pharmacy is bad and getting worse! Wait till you see what this year brings! The Chains giving big bucks to the Pharmacy schools has succeeded in making Pharmacists a dime a dozen! And yet so many are still too blind to see!!! See how benevolent and altruistic the chains will be treating their employees. If you think pharmacists didn't get much respect last year, Wait till next year!! When you are not in demand and can be replaced immediately, you have to learn to grovel on the ground!!

My friend agreed with also. He said that although some of these private for PharmD only schools, do provide you experience and how to pass boards, that they cater to people who had difficulty getting in traditional university school programs, some are probably good students but as with all of these schools also more likely to let subpar performers get in, especially if they can afford to pay. Another words these schools are not interested in weeding out nor keeping an over demand. And the ones who got the 3.9's and all the extra ECs and Voulunteer while and doing intern and free hours, may not have a job because of all the 2.7's -3.0 GPAs ( i'm sure not all) that go to these schools. GPA's at these schools could potentially if needed be inflated-so they look better in the work search0. So the guy with a 3.4 at a big Ten school is competing with a PharmD (vocational type) school with an inflated 3.8 (but had a 2.8 in pre-pharm), both passed for the same job.
Not sure if employers discern between the rank of schools now, I know they didn't care when the market was wide open and giving PharmDs sign on bonuses and loan forgiveness. A PharmD/PA was a PharmD/A.For us aC+PA= A PA

Amherst Healthcare in Fort Lauderdale, Florida said: I agree with Dave. If you insist on pursuing an education that will leave you in that much debt, I recommend Med School.

Pharmacy is a 6 year program, it isn't that much more to go to Med School. I also recruit for physician assistants and there is a lot of demand in that area. Nurse Practitioner is another area that you may want to consider as the shortage in that area is very high and the salaries are amazing. Nursing as a whole is an area I recommend as I am told my employers that there is a high shortage in that profession as a whole. If you choose nursing, I recommend staying in school and getting your MSN. There are many more opportunities that will become available if you get your Masters in Nursing. Visit FindNursingJobsOnline.com for more information.

I am overwhelmed about the number of jobs available in Physical Therapy. Especially jobs for Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists. Check out AllTherapistJobs.com to get more information on this.

The bottom line is there are jobs in healthcare, just not in pharmacy. If you are already in Pharmacy School and about to graduate, apply to a Residency program and get a PGY1 or go for 2 years and get a PGY2. If you have a PGY1 or PGY2 Residency or are a hosptal pharmacy manager or director of pharmacy with strong hospital experience visit AmherstHealthcare.com or email me at iinokon@AmherstHealthcare.com

...DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO SWITCH FROM PHARMACIST TO PHYSICAL THERAPIST?? I AM TIRED OF LOOKING FOR A PHARMACIST JOB

Nick L in Medford, Massachusetts said: Will you have to 'explain' you move to TX?? I hear that parts of the south & TX aren't that welcoming toward those from the east especially the northeast. Besides how do you explaining moving somewhere without a job lined up??

Just spoke to my friend in Dallas area. She said 25% of graduates from Austin were unable to find jobs. The dallas/Fr worth area is saturated with pharmacists. You will probably have to go into a rural area.
I lived there for 15 years and moved back to Michigan 8 years ago for family obligations. Want to go back to Texas but also am concerned that I will be unable to find work in DFW. It is a great place to live (kind of hot) but I am not
hearing good things about our rph market right now. Good Luck!

Hello, all. When I started college last year I thought about becoming a pharmacist, but lately I've been wanting to go to medical school. Medicine in general is exciting, so I want to do something with that. I just don't know where to go exactly. I guess I want to be a doctor more but if it doesn't work out I'd have only a few other options to consider. Tonight, as I was driving home from school, my mother called my cell phone and we talked and she told me our pharmacist said the job security is way high with a soon-to-be higher compensation ($147,000)! I don't know what to believe. If our pharmacist actually said that and what everyone here says about pharmacy is true then why did he lie?

I would like to relate my own experience and find out what is going on with everyone else. Maybe if we had commincated with one another we would not be in this sinking ship. I work for Walmart, when I can get hours. They have cut pharmacist out of the store.

Now, one pharmacist does 350 to 450 Rx per day with 3 techs. Is it very dangerous? Of course. When I work in this environment, I catch countless mistakes made by the techs, but what scares me are the mistakes I am missing. The State Board seems to be helping Walmart and other Corporations create this dangerous situation. The pharmacists who have full-time jobs are scared to death of losing their job, because they know they won't find another one. I know 5 pharmacist who lost their job and can't find work...all in their 40's with families. I have lost my job, but still get some work.

Salaries remain high. I make $58/hr when I get work. Why do salaries stay up, while there is an oversupply of pharmacists? I have heard that salaries are coming down to the $50/hr area at Publix (from a Publix Pharm).

The Walmart DM is telling his pharmacists that he gets 6 to 10 calls a day from pharmacists looking for work and that if they can't do the job, he will hire one of them. So, you can see why they live in constant fear. Fear is a powerful motivator, but at some point you break down from the strain...it sucks life out of you, especially at 40 hours or more per week. Most of the pharmacists are volunteering, many hours per week, no pay, just to stay in the good graces of the powers that be.

I know pharmacists who believe in both futures for pharmacy: improving and deteriorating. What is your view? I believe that this is part of a boom/bust cycle that will eventually normalize, but who long will this last? It looks like it will get worse, before it gets better, considering that the number of pharmacy grads is STILL increasing! Can you believe that?? I hope salaries will come down and jobs will open up.

What is criminal is the Schools putting the students into what amounts to indentured servitude with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt. How much school debt do you have? My children will say, "maybe, I should be a pharmacist". It is really endless pain, noone likes it and every pharmacist dreads the pharmacy.

holmes in River Grove, Illinois said: Do not believe some of the lies being written here regarding lack of job opportunities for pharmacists. These liars are trying to scare people off from applying to pharmacy school because they fear that supply will overtake demand. Fact is, pharmacists make tons of money right out of school and there are and will be many job openings in the future. This is all just a feeble attempt to prevent people from entering this lucrative field. Liars!